Apr 25 10:08:58 108 PA - Some Necessary Recruiting
From Chronicles
Apr 25 10:08:58 108 PA.
KINGSDALE CITY MUSEUM (GARDEN)
The Library Garden is unusually peaceful, perhaps due to the time of day when people have yet to return to their studies after finding lunch outside of the Museum. Really, at any one time there are fewer than five people in this entire area, which means that the gurgling and flushing sounds of the delicate fountain serve to cover up and subdue other noises. Gabriel is sitting on one of the marble benches, but on one of the ends, facing out and north in this particular case, rather than facing the central attraction. His gaze isn't focused on the entry, but his eyes are in that direction. Dressed in his common gear, he would appear, at least at first glance, to be very contemplative.
Erica comes into the Garden dressed in her usual military fatigues and the rest of the gear she carries around most times. She walks into the calm little garden and takes a few moments to look at some of the lovely plants that are growing this spring. After taking her time she heads over to where Gabriel is sitting. She flashes him a quick smile before speaking. "You wanted to see me?"
Gabriel stands politely as Erica not only comes into view, but grabs his attention out of whatever reverie he was enjoying. "Yes, yes. Hi, Erica. Thanks for meeting me. How's life in Kingsdale treating you today?" He'll wave back to the bench, and begin to re-seat himself - sitting on the bench properly this time, and facing the fountain. An offhanded comment of, "Beautiful, isn't it?" will be tossed out somewhat arbitrarily.
Erica shrugs her shoulders briefly. "Things are going ok. I am getting that plasma damage to my armor fixed, and a e-clip recharged while I am at it." She takes a moment to look around the garden as she nods her head. "It really is a very lovely place. So what did you need?"
Gabriel chuckles softly, which turns into a sigh, then into a groan. "What do I need? I need a new set of armor, that's what I need. Mine's really good to use as odd-sized serving platters right now." He then waves off the obvious morbid humor. "I mentioned this to you before, but I know that I didn't go into it. Have you been paying attention to the news? Channel 5 has been doing some reporting on activities
"Uh they have stopped expanding for now as far as I have heard. Expansion will likely happen although who knows why? I don't really keep up with the news reporting. Usually it is poor reporting." Erica says with a shrug of her shoulders. "But you are asking me for no particular reason. How about you just tell me what you need me to do instead of play games?"
"Why do you always accuse me of playing games? I was just figuring out where to start," Gabriel says with a friendly grin. "Just because of paranoia, I'll leave names out for now, but I've been working with three others - whom I trust very well to do their jobs correctly, not like those people last night. Anyway, Whykin *is* expanding. I have no idea why they've paused, but likely just building up supplies for a surge." He stops, an obvious point to pause for any questions up until now.
"Because otherwise it would take like two hours for you to get to the point." Erica says with a little roll of her eyes and a grin. "Ok yes Whykin is expanding. What does that have to do with me? And why do you care?"
The older fellow shrugs slightly. "I - we - care because when Hitler annexed the Saarland, it wasn't with the agreement and assumption that he'd just peacefully hand it back someday. As Whykin's borders get closer to our borders, the possibility of all-out conflict grows. The larger Whykin's sphere of influence grows, the stronger the Coalition forces in the area get. There's nothing that a small group of us can do to stop it, but there are things we can to do hobble it. We've done some very good reconnaissance, and while I'm happy to give you further details, the punchline is that they're pushing out by only about five miles around the city itself, but there is one major position twenty-five miles out." Gabriel motions his hands in a bit of a circle. "When you figure that Kingsdale and Whykin are only about eighty miles apart, that's quite a bit of closeness that no one would enjoy. So... we figure that this base, or whatever it's going to be - we aren't absolutely, completely sure - needs to be destroyed. At the very least, it would pull their actions back for a while and give them something to think about. I'd like you to come along and at least hear what everyone else's input is because right now I'm the only actual military person involved. The others are all very capable in their own right, but sometimes you just need someone who knows how to point, shoot and scoot." No, Gabriel just keeps talking. An explanation was asked, an explanation would be given.
"So what is next on the list attacking Newtown? Or Fort El Dorado? Those are both pretty close and they are Coalition outposts. Newtown is growing pretty quickly as well." Erica says with grim look. "Kingsdale has Coalition bases all around. But ok if this one is somehow a special case how are you planning on destroying it?"
Gabriel looks around to wait for some of the closer people to disperse. "We don't have a plan yet. We have good intelligence though, and it was submitted to the Council for their review, though honestly I doubt that anything will come of it. I'd like you to come in when we meet next if for no other reason than to offer some suggestions from your point of view - just one more unique point of view to be considered. If you don't have any particular interest in directly participating, I respect that, and I guarantee that you could walk with no ill feelings whatsoever, from anyone. Like I said, good people. So right now, I'm just asking for your ear and an opinion. When we get together next, it *will* be to go over all of the intelligence and decide how to destroy the thing - if we agree that it can be done." He shrugs slightly and states, "I doubt that the Council will openly support us, but I also wouldn't be surprised if at the very least they wouldn't recoup our losses, even if open recognition goes completely unstated. But the other places you mentioned? They're already large, larger than Whykin. The longer that we can keep it from growing, the longer Kingsdale has to go without worrying about the Coalition's forces landing on us. The war at Tolkeen will eventually end, one way or another. Same with Quebec. They'll take an interest somewhere else, and if we can keep Whykin from becoming an easy embarkation point, the better things will be for all of us." He then turns to fully look at Erica, searching for her eyes. "At least just come and listen?"
"So who else is involved with this?" Erica asks as she takes a seat down close to Gabriel. "I'll be happy to come to your meeting and see what I can offer. I am always happy to give the Coalition a black eye. As long as no innocent people get hurt. Yes I'll come and listen and help out as best I can."
If only to try and get Erica more pulled in with trust, Gabriel would nearly press his lips against the nearest available ear, even going to the extent of covering them from prying lip-reading eyes by cupping his hands around them. "Vixen, Sage and Leonard are all working on the project. Like I said, people who I know that I can count on." After returning his head to a more appropriate distance, he'll add, "I'm sorry for the cloak-and-dagger, but I'd hate to endanger anyone but myself with loose lips."
"And are you in charge here? Or is it another free for all?" Erica asks after getting the names of the others. "It is fine better to be safe then sorry. I will come for sure. I can offer what help I can give. I have planned assaults before."
"Me? Oh, no no. Right now, Vixen has taken taken the lead on this one, though in fact it truly is really very much of an equal partnership as was unsuccessfully discussed last night. When good people get together, that kind of thing can work out." Gabriel purses his lips in a contented manner and nods just slightly. "I know that Leonard and Sage encountered something unusual in the forests on their part of the recon, but Sage has been meditating on it. Don't know what she's found yet, if anything. But... this is why people get together. Thanks for coming, Erica, but now and in the future. I'll come by and contact you in person to let you know when and where it will be." He sniffs and twitches his nose at something before asking, "Anything else that you'd like to know right now? Something that I actually know?" He smiles at his own inadequacies.
"Well I am guessing all the intel will be presented at the meeting, so I am sure I'll have a lot more questions then." Erica says with a slight grin. "Alright well I'll see you at the meeting then. Something to look forward too. Hopefully can find some things to sell as well. Some of that Coalition equipment is pretty sweet stuff. A plasma ejector would be fun."
Gabriel nods with a smile. "Oh yes, I'm sure that there will be some kind of equipment, although without knowing exactly what the place is for, I could only speculate right now. Could be railguns, could be Whykin's new laundry facility. That's why were getting together." He grins. "That's all that I have to say in any pseudo-official capacity, if you want to be going. If not, I'm more than happy to sit and talk, or even casual myself down and meet you somewhere." The man with the graying hair shrugs once more. "I'm in between hauling bricks and bags of cement right now."
"Why are you hauling bricks and bags of cement" Erica asks with a raised eyebrow. "Sure we can go somewhere else if you want, maybe a club, or bar. Or we can stick around here if you want too. What would you like to chat about?"
Gabriel begins to stand, his hands on his legs, pushing. "I haul bricks and bags of cement because it's good honest money in my wallet between the big jobs. We all need money - or at least, I do - and if I didn't keep myself busy, I'd go to that nice big limb at my house, climb it, wrap a rope around my neck and jump." A semi-feral grin follows. "Other than reflection on recent events, contemplating the future, and babbling about the here-and-now though, I'll admit that I have nothing specific in mind to discuss. But I'd still like to get out, spend some of that money from heavy labor." When he's doing speaking, he's also done rising, ending at a genuine standing position, perhaps excellent for a man of his advanced age. At least, advanced age for this world.
Erica stands up herself as she nods her head. "I've done a lot of hauling work before. With my armor I can haul around some pretty heavy stuff. Can carry about five hundred pounds around pretty easily and lift twice that." She say while she starts heading to the exit. "Well let's go to the club. Alibi is nice."
Gabriel says pleasantly, "I'll see you there, Erica. Change into my fancy clothes for a semi-fancy place." Eventually they'll both have to depart, though it may be a battle to see who goes first."
